A coupling for attaching a lacrosse head to a lacrosse handle

ABSTRACT

A coupling for a lacrosse stick having a lacrosse handle and a lacrosse head includes a handle-mating portion receiving a portion of the lacrosse handle. The coupling also includes a head-mating portion sized for reception within a receiving portion of the lacrosse head. The head-mating portion couples to the handle-mating portion such that the handle-mating portion extends away from the head-mating portion.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present invention claims priority from U.S. Provisional ApplicationSer. No. 60/581,319 filed Jun. 18, 2004, and entitled “A Coupling ForAttaching a Lacrosse Head to a Lacrosse Handle”.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to assembly components of alacrosse stick having a lacrosse head and a lacrosse handle. Moreparticularly, the present invention relates to a coupling for attachingthe lacrosse head to the lacrosse handle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Most current lacrosse heads have sockets formed with a standardoctagonal configuration. Specifically, the typical socket includes agenerally eight-sided construction with a major axis along a verticaldirection and a minor axis along a horizontal direction. In this way,current lacrosse heads are constructed only for attachment to lacrossehandles having similarly constructed end portions, namely octagonaltubes with a major axis along a vertical direction and a minor axisalong a horizontal direction. A drawback of the standard socket is thatlacrosse handles that are configured or oriented differently than thisstandard manner cannot be inserted into the sockets and attached to thelacrosse head.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an advantage of the present invention to provide acoupling for attaching a lacrosse handle to a lacrosse head not sizedand shaped for directly attaching to the lacrosse handle.

It is another advantage of the present invention to provide a couplingfor providing a versatile and customized lacrosse stick comprising alacrosse head and a lacrosse handle, both of which are best suited for alacrosse player.

It is still another advantage of the present invention to provide acoupling that positions a lacrosse handle in a desired orientation withrespect to a lacrosse head.

It is yet another advantage of the present invention to provide acoupling that dampens vibrations that can travel from a lacrosse headthrough a lacrosse handle to a lacrosse player's hands.

It is a further advantage of the present invention to provide a couplinghaving a simple robust construction that allows for substantially quickand inexpensive manufacture thereof.

It is still a further advantage of the present invention to provide acoupling for a lacrosse stick that is substantially lightweight formaintaining handling characteristics of the lacrosse stick.

It is still yet another advantage of the present invention to provide aninexpensive means for coupling a lacrosse head to a lacrosse handle.

In accordance with the above and the other advantages of the presentinvention, a coupling for a lacrosse stick having a lacrosse handle anda lacrosse head includes a handle-mating portion for receiving a portionof the lacrosse handle. The handle-mating portion defines a firstcross-section and a first central axis. The coupling also includes ahead-mating portion sized for reception within a receiving portion ofthe lacrosse head. The head-mating portion defines a secondcross-section and a second central axis. The head-mating portion couplesto the handle-mating portion such that the handle-mating portion extendsaway from the head-mating portion.

Other advantages of the present invention will become apparent whenviewed in light of the detailed description of the preferred embodimentwhen taken in conjunction with the attached drawings and appendedclaims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of this invention, reference shouldnow be made to the embodiments illustrated in greater detail in theaccompanying drawings and described below by way of examples of theinvention.

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a lacrosse stick in accordance with oneembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of a lacrosse stick in accordance withanother embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of a lacrosse stick in accordance withanother embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a top view of a coupling for attaching a lacrosse head to alacrosse handle in accordance with the embodiment of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is front view of the coupling of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a top view of a coupling for attaching a lacrosse head to alacrosse handle in accordance with the embodiment of FIG. 2.

FIG. 7 is front view of the coupling of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a top view of a coupling for attaching a lacrosse head to alacrosse handle in accordance with the embodiment of FIG. 3.

FIG. 9 is front view of the coupling of FIG. 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In the following Figures, the same reference numerals are used toidentify the same components in the various views. FIGS. 1, 4, and 5illustrate a lacrosse stick 8 having a coupling 1 0 for attaching alacrosse head 1 2 to a lacrosse handle 1 4 in accordance with oneembodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, the coupling 10 has ahandle-mating portion 16 for attaching to a lacrosse handle 14 and ahead-mating portion 18 for attaching to a lacrosse head 12. In thisembodiment, the head-mating portion 18 is a plug extending from thecoupling 10. However, the head-mating portion 18 can have various othersuitable constructions as desired.

This plug is shaped and sized for insertion into a similarly shaped andsized socket 20, which extends from the lacrosse head 12. In this way,the plug couples to the lacrosse head 12 by a pressure fit engagement.It will also be appreciated that other suitable fasteners, e.g. screwfasteners 13, can be utilized to attach the socket 20 of the lacrossehead 12 to the plug. Also in this embodiment, the handle-mating portion16 has a sleeve construction for receiving and coupling to an endportion of the handle 14 in a pressure-fit engagement. However, itshould be understood that the handle-mating portion 16 may instead haveother suitable constructions as desired. The sleeve construction canalso be secured to the handle via other suitable fasteners, e.g. screwfasteners 17, as are well known in the art.

In accordance with one embodiment, the coupling 10 includes avibration-dampening material, e.g. an injection molded elastomericmaterial. However, it is contemplated that the coupling 10 insteadincludes various other materials as desired. In another embodiment, thecoupling 10 includes a vibration-dampening member 23 coupled thereto fordecreasing the amount of vibrations traveling from the lacrosse head 12to the lacrosse handle 14. For example, the vibration-dampening membermay be a foam element operatively coupled between the lacrosse handle 14and the lacrosse head 12. It is also understood that the vibrationdampening may instead be an elastomeric material, a fluid-filledbladder, various other suitable materials, or any combination thereof.

In this embodiment, the head-mating portion 18 and the handle-matingportion 16 of the coupling 10 are respectively shaped and sized forattaching a lacrosse head 12 and a lacrosse handle 14, which may or maynot be shaped and sized for directly attaching to each other. Forexample, as shown in FIG. 1, the coupling 10 is utilized for attaching asocket 20, which has a polygonal construction, to a lacrosse handle 14,which has a larger ellipsoid construction. However, it will beappreciated that the socket 20, the handle 14, and the coupling 10 canhave a variety of other suitable shapes and sizes.

To illustrate further, FIGS. 2, 6, and 7 include another coupling 25having a head-mating portion 37 horizontally ellipsoid and octagonal incross-section, whereas the handle-mating portion 39 is verticallyellipsoid and also octagonal in cross section.

Referring again to FIGS. 1, 4, and 5, the head-mating portion 18 may besized for reception within or attachment to a receiving portion orsocket 20 (first coupling portion) of the lacrosse head 12, wherein thehead-mating portion 18 defines a second cross-section and a secondcentral axis 21. The handle-mating portion 16 is sized for receiving aportion 31 (first end or second coupling portion) of the lacrosse handle14. Important to note is that the head-mating portion 18 may alternatelyreceive the coupling portion of the lacrosse head, and the couplingportion of the lacrosse handle 14 may alternately receive thehandle-mating portion 16.

The head-mating portion 18 is also coupled to the handle-mating portion16 such that the handle-mating portion 16 extends away from thehead-mating portion 18. The head-mating portion 18 defines a secondcross-section and a second central axis 21. At least one of the firstcross-section and the second cross-section is a circle, an ellipsoid, atriangle, a square, or a polygon.

In addition, it will also be appreciated that the head-mating portion 18and the handle-mating portion 16 of the coupling 10 can be utilized forpositioning the lacrosse handle 14 and the lacrosse head 12 in a desiredconfiguration even when the lacrosse head 12 and the lacrosse handle 14are compatible for directly attaching to each other.

The lacrosse handle 14 includes a long tube that is construed of a metalmaterial. The handle 14 may be constructed of titanium or aluminum andformed by conventional metal forming process. The handle 14 has a firstend 31 that is intended to engage a socket of a lacrosse head and asecond end (not shown) that opposes the first end 31. The second endtypically has a butt cap fitted thereon. The embodied handle 14 includesa generally octagonal cross section. This allows the handle 14 to fiteasily into octagonal shaped socket 20 of the lacrosse head 12 but onlywhen the socket 20 and the handle are designed to couple together;otherwise the coupling 10 is inserted between the head 12 and the handle14. Further, the handle 14 has an outer wall portion 35, forming theperiphery of the handle, and a hollow interior, bounded by the outerwall portion 35. The outer wall 35 in the lacrosse head has a constantthickness throughout the octagonal shape.

In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, as shownin FIGS. 3, 8, and 9, the coupling 40 can rotatably offset the lacrossehandle, e.g. ninety (90) degrees, with respect to the socket 20.However, it will be appreciated that the coupling 10 can provide avariety of other suitable offsets or configurations as desired. Forexample, the coupling 10 can radially offset the lacrosse handle 14 fromthe socket 20 of the lacrosse head 12. In this way, the coupling offsetsthe lacrosse head 12 from a longitudinal axis of the lacrosse handle 14.In other words, the second central axis 21 (of the head-mating portion42) is parallel to and offset from the first central axis 19 (of thehandle-mating portion 44).

The coupling 10 thus allows for ready attachment of lacrosse handleshaving different configurations or orientations to lacrosse heads havingstandard configurations or orientations.

While particular embodiments of the invention have been shown anddescribed, numerous variations and alternate embodiments will occur tothose skilled in the art. Accordingly, it is intended that the inventionbe limited only in terms of the appended claims.

1. A coupling for a lacrosse stick having a lacrosse handle and alacrosse head comprising: handle-mating portion sized for receiving aportion of the lacrosse handle, wherein said handle mating portiondefines a first cross-section and a first central axis; and ahead-mating portion sized for reception within a receiving portion ofthe lacrosse head, wherein said head-mating portion defines a secondcross-section and a second central axis, said head-mating portioncoupled to said handle-mating portion such that said head-mating portionextends away from said handle-mating portion.
 2. The coupling of claim1, wherein said first central axis and said second central axis aresubstantially in line.
 3. The coupling of claim 1, wherein said firstcentral axis is offset from said second central axis such that saidhead-mating portion is offset from said handle-mating portion.
 4. Thecoupling of claim 1, wherein said first cross section is proportional tosaid second cross-section.
 5. The coupling of claim 1, wherein saidfirst cross-section differs from said second cross-section in at leastone of shape and orientation.
 6. The coupling of claim 5, wherein one ofsaid first cross-section and said second cross-section comprises acircle, an ellipsoid, a triangle, a square, or a polygon.
 7. Thecoupling of claim 1, further comprising at least one fastener coupled tosaid head-mating portion adapted to couple to a portion of the lacrossehead.
 8. The coupling of claim 1, further comprising at least onefastener coupled to said handle-mating portion adapted to couple to aportion of the lacrosse handle.
 9. The coupling of claim 1, wherein oneof said first cross-section and said second cross-section is larger thanthe other.
 10. The coupling of claim 1 further comprising avibration-dampening member coupled to at least one of said handle-matingportion and said head-mating portion.
 11. The coupling of claim 10,wherein said vibration-dampening member comprises at least one of a foamelement, an elastomer material, and a fluid-filled bladder.
 12. Thecoupling of claim 1, wherein at least one of said handle-mating portionand said head-mating portion comprises a vibration dampening material.13. A coupling for a lacrosse stick having a lacrosse handle and alacrosse head comprising: a handle-mating portion sized for receiving aportion of the lacrosse handle, wherein said handle mating portiondefines a first cross-section and a first central axis; a head-matingportion sized for reception within a receiving portion of the lacrossehead, wherein said head-mating portion defines a second cross-sectionand a second central axis, said head-mating portion coupled to saidhandle-mating portion such that said head-mating portion extends awayfrom said handle-mating portion; at least one fastener coupled to saidhead-mating portion adapted to couple to a portion of the lacrosse head;and a vibration-dampening member coupled to at least one of saidhandle-mating portion and said head-mating portion.
 14. The coupling ofclaim 13, wherein said first central axis and said second central axisare substantially in line.
 15. The coupling of claim 13, wherein saidfirst central axis is offset from said second central axis such thatsaid head-mating portion is offset from said handle-mating portion. 16.The coupling of claim 13, wherein said first cross section isproportional to said second cross-section.
 17. The coupling of claim 13,wherein said first cross-section differs from said second cross-sectionin shape.
 18. The coupling of claim 17, wherein one of said firstcross-section and said second cross-section comprises a circle, anellipsoid, a triangle, a square, or a polygon.
 19. The coupling of claim13, wherein said vibration-dampening member comprises at least one of afoam element, an elastomeric material, and a fluid-filled bladder.
 20. Alacrosse stick comprising: a lacrosse head comprising a first couplingportion and defining a first major axis; a lacrosse handle comprising asecond coupling portion and a second major axis; a coupling comprising ahandle-mating portion and a head-mating portion, said handle-matingportion sized for attaching to said second coupling portion, whereinsaid handle mating portion defines a first cross-section and a firstcentral axis substantially linear with said second major axis, saidhead-mating portion sized for attaching to said first coupling portion,wherein said head-mating portion defines a second cross-section and asecond central axis substantially linear with said first major axis,said head-mating portion extends away from said handle-mating portion;at least one fastener coupling said head-mating portion to said firstcoupling portion; and a vibration-dampening member coupled to at leastone of said handle-mating portion and said head-mating portion.